Rule Clarifications per e-mail from S.Norton
Below are questions asked by S. Norton, and my clarifications returned to him via e-mail:
1. Is there a grace period on going over the driving stint time limit?
2. What does the ballast consist of?
3. At driver change/fuel stop-Kart Switch will each team be allowed an team member to assist the driver swap?
4. Will pit boards be allowed for signaling drivers?
5. Will the exiting driver or assistant (if allowed) be able to push the exiting kart when allowed on track by the track marshal?
1. Because more than one driver is allowed in the pits at a time, there will be no grace period. When I have run endurance races, when we got to say the 40 min mark, our pit window would open, and we would look to come in. I would be surprised if many drivers decide to double stint, and even more surprised if drivers go a full 1.5 hour. This is more because of the size of the teams, and the limited length of the event (6 drivers per team doesn’t allow for a lot of double-stinting).
2. The ballast used are 10lbs plates like those on a dumbbell. There are brackets mounted low on either side of the chassis that can hold 30lbs each. Drivers will switch these plates from one kart to the other.
3. In a fuel stop (kart Switch), only the current driver will be allowed in the pit area. It will be up to them to move the weights on their own (if applicable), and buckle up. During a driver change stop, only the current driver, and the new driver will be allowed in the pit area. This is to reduce the number of bodies in the pit area, since more than one kart/team will be allowed in the pits at one time. These two drivers can assist each other in the pit stop.
4. Pit boards are allowed and encouraged. However, entering the pit area will not be allowed for safety reasons.
5. Exiting driver will not be allowed to push the new driver out of the pits, as there may be another team exiting behind, and pushing team member could be run into by the second kart.
---Mike Smith
Race Director
Apex Karting